2 SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Late Maspeth restaurant owner
honored with street co-naming
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
New York City Council member Robert Holden
recently celebrated the street co-naming of
53rd Drive in Maspeth aft er lifelong resident
George O’Neill.
O’Neill owned and operated O’Neill’s Restaurant
and Grill for 88 years. The restaurant was opened
by O’Neill’s father the day aft er Prohibition ended
on Dec. 5, 1933.
O’Neill turned what used to be called Plateau
Tavern into a full restaurant when he came back
from a tour of duty as a cook in Hawaii in 1956. The
restaurant is still operating today.
O’Neill died in 2018 at the age of 83. The restaurant
at 64-21 53rd Dr. posted a statement on Facebook following
his death:
“When you walked into O’Neill’s, everyone knew
him and he knew everyone right back. He was the
best husband, best father, best grandfather and
best friend to all,” the post read. “George, you will
be missed. You put up a good fi ght. We love you.”
Holden said he was extremely proud to co-name
this street for O’Neill.
“Not only did he start one of the most popular and
longest-running businesses in the district, but he
was devoted to serving his community,” Holden said.
Community members, family and friends celebrated the street co-naming for George O’Neill in
Maspeth. Courtesy of Holden’s offi ce
“He raised tremendous amounts of money for many
worthy causes and organizations. He was a credit
to our district and his legacy lived on in his family.”
George O’Neill was a friend to the NYPD, FDNY,
and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. His restaurant
was the site of numerous community fundraisers
for these organizations and local nonprofi ts. It is also
a staple in the neighborhood for family occasions.
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